Govt to celebrate day of Swamiji's Chicago speech as 'Sampriti Divas'

Kolkata: The state government will celebrate September 11, the day when Swami Vivekananda had addressed the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, as Sampriti Divas. It will celebrate the 125th anniversary of Swamiji's Chicago address in a befitting manner.

Sampriti Week will be observed from September 12 to 19. The decision was taken at the first meeting of the committee set up for the celebration, which was held on Thursday, said state Education minister Partha Chatterjee.

Swamis Suvirananda, general secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Mission and Swami Suvakarananda, secretary, RKM Ekalavya Residential School, Jhargram, along with Suvaprasanna and Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri were present at the meeting. Chandrima Bhattacharya, minister of state for Health, Chief Secretary Malay De and Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya were also present at the meeting.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend the function which will be organised at Belur Math on September 11. The concluding programme will be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium on September 19.

Attempts will be made to hold seminars and symposia all over the state. There will be a light and sound programme at Swami Vivekananda's ancestral house. The timings of the show will be announced later.

The state government will provide another Rs 10 crore for the proposed Centre of Excellence, which is coming up near Eco Park in New Town. The state government had earlier provided Rs 10 crore as well.

Swamiji had spoken about harmony and peace at the World's Parliament of Religions which was a part of Columbian Exposition, a programme organised to celebrate 400 years of Columbus' discovery of America in 1893.

He had spoken about "Universal Religion" and was confident that such a religion will be the religion of the future, when all people irrespective of class, creed, sex and religion will be respected.